title: Long-term psychological impact of severe postpartum hemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the long-term psychological impact of severe postpartum hemorrhage in women whose uterus was preserved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive women who underwent embolization for postpartum hemorrhage between 1994 and 2007 and whose uterus was preserved were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrieved from medical files and semi-structured telephone interviews. In semi-structured interviews, women were asked about their perceptions and memories of the experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perceptions and memories of the postpartum hemorrhage during and after delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up was successful for 68 of the 91 (74.7%) women included. Of the 46 (67.6%) who reported negative memories of the delivery and postpartum period, the main memory for 24 was a fear of dying (35.3%). Of the 28 (41.2%) who reported continued repercussions, 16 (23.5%) thought about this delivery and its complications at least once a month, five (7.3%) reported persistent fear of dying, four (5.9%) reported sexual problems, and three (4.4%) women considered that the event was, at least in part, responsible for their subsequent divorce. Of the 15 women who had a subsequent full-term pregnancy, nine (60%) reported intense anxiety throughout the pregnancy, and one (6.7%) developed depression requiring antidepressant treatment during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe postpartum hemorrhage may have a long-term psychological impact on women despite uterine preservation.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Radiology, Rouen University Hospital, Charles Nicolle, Rouen, France. loicsentilhes@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Loïc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sentilhes
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gromez
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clavier
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Descamps
authors.forename: Loïc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marpeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents